Restaurants in Historic Centre (Sevilla)

La Judería

Located in the heart of the old Jewish quarter, this typical Andalusian restaurant serves a wide range of regional and national specialities using quality, fresh ingredients sourced from all over Spain. The menu features fish, shellfish and cured hams from Huelva, meats from Avila, peppered lamb from Castile, anchovies from the north coast and oxtail stew from Seville. The homemade desserts add a final sweet touch to your meal.

Las Columnas

This place, air-conditioned so that you do not feel the summer heat, is famous for being a meeting place for foreign exchange students who have cleverly chosen a good place to eat a lot, cheap and well. It has the simple decor of a tapas bar, nothing particularly out of the ordinary, with plain walls and plastic chairs. But it's very clean and the service is fast and efficient. There are a variety of reasons, such as: its exquisite market food, mixed dishes and varied tapas. Serranito (a baguette with meat, tomato, ham and pepper) is recommended.

Rayuela

This main charm of this café, whose name corresponds to that of the surreal masterpiece by the great author Julio Cortázar, is its location, in an alleyway that will take you, via the monument zone of Seville, to the very doors of the Reales Alcázares. Whether in its warm and inviting interior or sitting at one of the little tables gathered around the door to this pedestrian street, you can enjoy a comforting and revitalizing coffee before climbing up the many stairs of the Giralda Tower. They also offer "tapas" and daily 3-course menus, and at night they will serve you whatever cocktail you desire, although with calm and relaxation.

La Giganta

This bar, located in a beautiful section of the historical centre of Seville, is directly in front of the popular Church of Saint Catalina. Its interior transmits a clean feeling, while the waiters that serve you, all in uniform, demonstrate an almost studied professionalism. In the gastronomic department, their grated cheese plates are impressive - try the honey and basil plate - or the different sauces. As for their wine cellar, they serve a spendid wine from the famous Rioja region bottled by the house.

Eslava

Ran by the hotelkeeper Sixto Tovar Gutierrez, this bar has one of the most successful kitchens around. Their tapas are so varied that it is difficult to decide between them all, but Rioja-style potatoes, Salmorejo (thick vegetable dip), homemade stews, Roquefort croquettes and sirloin with Cabrales cheese (similar to Roquefort) are very tasty. In addition, there are many delicious wines. Make sure to drink the Castillo de San Diego very cold; it is an ideal white wine to accompany the seafood.

El Copo

The shellfish and seafood that this bar brings daily from Sanlúcar de Barrameda, a tiny village by the Bay of Cádiz - famous throughout the world for its excellent products 'stolen' from the Atlantic ocean - are absolutely delicious. The way in which these specialties are prepared is typically Andaluz, with olive oil as the star of the show. In addition, they will offer you some magnificent homemade desserts, as well as an excellent selection from their wine cellar. But don't be wary; everything is very informal and relaxed, and the prices are more than affordable. Sit down in the outdoor summer terrace if it's a warm day, or in the heated interior. The area is conveniently located in the 'El Arenal' neighborhood, the heart of downtown Seville.

La Andana

This wine cellar/bar is the perfect place to stop in for a refreshing drink after a morning full of plans. Just a few meters from the Cathedral, this bar specializes in so called "montaditos" (little portions of tapas served on bread). There are more than 50 different kinds here, available in both cold and hot varieties. With rapid service, they also have tables outside. And to make things easier for you come lunchtime, a simple mountain ham and tomato sandwich, or one with fresh cheese and salmon, can appease your hungry stomach. The typical drink here is the sweet wine, accompanied by some regionally grown olives.

Helas

Located very close to Santa Justa station and a stone's throw from the city centre, you will see this Greek restaurant, perfect if you want a change and to eat as if you where very close to Parthenon. The most characteristic dishes of the Greek cuisine like musaka or suvlaki, accompanied by Greek music and wine will make you feel a long way from Seville. There are specialities that you will never have heard of and whose names will not tell you what you are ordering, but the waiters are more than happy to help and to explain what is in each dish. Another reason for visiting Helas is that you don't have to be Onassis to eat here, completely the opposite in fact.

Hang Zhou

One of the most beautiful areas of the city is its old centre, where you can see the Cathedral, the Plaza Virgen de los Reyes and the Santa Cruz district starts. Mateos Gago street is the meeting point for thousands of foreigners who visit Seville and who want to get a true flavour of the city. It is here that you find this Chinese restaurant. It offers a change of menu from the numerous bars and restaurants serving typical Andalusian dishes in the area and it is well worth checking out the oriental delicacies as an alternative. As is normal with Chinese restaurants, the menu offers a variety of dishes and it is possible to visit this restaurant on many occasions and not eat the same dish twice. Rice comes in all its varieties, along with noodles, spring rolls, salads and soups. For the main course there is chicken curry, beef with bean shoots, duck, and sweet and sour pork. For dessert the speciality is fried bananas. If on the day you visit there are not too many people you might receive a Chinese liquor on the house. If you have never tried one don't be afraid to ask, but don't try to find out what's in the bottle!